Chapter 22: Ends

Late November, 2017.

Despite the fact that Taehyung felt attracted to you first, Kara still went out with Taehyung. She'd go home late to hang out with him and you'd help her sneak in the house.

And not after a long time, they finally got together. Kim Taehyung is officially dating Kara.

"Can you tell me how you first met me? Because I really couldn't remember it." She asked him as they sat on a hammock attached to the trees on the sea shore near their town.

Taehyung had to drive a couple of hours just to bring Kara here. And they are enjoying. He had his arms around her as they both stare at the blue waters. They feel like they're in another world or in another dimension, away from all the people that could judge them. They could be themselves here without worries.

Taehyung nodded, "That's understandable. You were pretty upset that time. I guess you were visiting your Dad but the receptionist didn't allow you. So you just sat there with sorrow in your eyes, I was about to talk to you but you already went out. I remember being so pissed at the receptionist that time." He chuckled as he embrace her tightly.

That never happened. Kara never met Taehyung in that way. Kara was always welcomed to her Dad's office, the receptionist was always kind to her.

But not to you. Taehyung saw you first and he was attracted to you. But he fell in love with Kara too. He fell in love with her personality and kindness. Surely, there's a lot of difference between attraction and love. She shouldn't be afraid.

Kara smiled at Taehyung after he told her the first time he met you. Taehyung doesn't know about you. Kara was still afraid to tell him stories about your family. To say your name to him or to admit that you are her twin. But she's not planning to keep it as a secret. She'll tell him, just not anytime soon.

"When will you tell your parents that we're in a relationship? Don't they like me?" Taehyung asked, his brows furrowed.

Kara's braided hair was resting on her shoulder, some strands of her hair was dancing with the air and casually touching her cheeks. She held his chin and pulled it near her face.

She saw how Taehyung looked at her with those soft eyes. She smiled, "Just not yet. But soon."

"You don't even tell stories about them. Are you hiding something, Kara?" He said, avoiding her gaze but not pulling away from her touch.

"No, Taehyung. I am not hiding something. My parents will surely like you. Even my sister." She said, letting him go and avoiding his eyes.

"You have a sister?" He asked in curiosity.

Kara nodded, but she won't tell him that she has a twin. No, not yet.

Mid December, 2017.

Kara was helping Taehyung arrange his things in his room at their big mansion. His parents wasn't there, they went abroad for a meeting for business. His room was a disaster and Kara was free today, luckily.

Kara sat in the middle of his room, stacking his books neatly on top of a Japanese table. "Dad's been stressing about the case lately. He wouldn't tell us but I know he's been receiving threats. Do you think its harmless?" She asked.

She glance at Taehyung who was sitting at the edge of his bed, beside him is your bag that he is actually interested in.

"That case isn't finish yet? Is this the first time to receive a threat?" He asked, glancing back at her.

"No, it isn't. But he'd most likely tell us about it and not keep it a secret by himself." Kara said.

Taehyung nodded, "Then you don't have to worry about it. My Dad receives something like that too, and nothing really happened to us." He said as he pull out a notebook from Kara's bag.

He opened it and saw a polaroid at the first page. It was two Kara wearing Halloween costumes. One with an angel costume and one with a Frankenstein. He glance at Kara who's busy stacking his book at the table. She looked so innocent and enjoying what she's doing.

Kara has a twin. He closed the notebook and put it back inside her bag before she even glance at him.

"So... how's your sister? You told me you'd introduce me to your family." Taehyung said casually.

Kara fixed her gaze at him. "Why did you ask about my sister?"

He sighed. He doesn't like what he's feeling. Like he's suspecting her of doing something so hideous like a crime. He doesn't want to feel that way about her. His girlfriend is too good, he's sure she has a reason why she didn't tell him.

He stood up and went to her. He sat across her at the Japanese table. "You know that I love you, right? Nothing can ever change my mind about that." He said, reaching for her hand.

She took his hand and put it on her cheek, "I know."

"So trust me. Put your trust on me, Kara. Don't hide anything from me." He said.

He didn't want to confront her. He just wanted to make her feel comfortable until she tells him the truth.

"I trust you." She said but she didn't tell him about you.

Late December, 2017.

It's Christmas break and Taehyung's family decided to fly to Japan to spend it there. His father decided to stay for his responsibilities and let his family go abroad without him. It was fine, his mother understood it but it would have been even better if his father was there.

Taehyung sat on his chair as he face you in his laptop. He smiles brightly as he greet you tonight.

"Thank you for this!" Kara said as she raise a box enveloped by a red gift wrapper and a green ribbon on top.

Taehyung nodded, "I'm glad you're happy. I'm sorry I couldn't buy your sister a gift, I didn't know what she wants."

"It's fine. I bought her two gifts anyway." Kara smiled at Taehyung's kindness.

"Sorry I couldn't go to you right now." Taehyung pouts.

"Hey, its fine. You should spend time with your Mom more. You're the only one who's with her right now, right?"

Taehyung hummed, "Dad didn't want to leave his office."

"He's a great governor, Taehyung." She compliments his father.

He smiled at her. Then he saw someone pass by at the background of Kara. Kara glances at the person that was out of the frame now. You passed by the screen and Taehyung saw you.

"I love you." Taehyung says at Kara when he saw her eyes filled with worry and somehow fear.

"I love you. I'm sorry I'm at the living room right now." She replied.

Taehyung nodded, "It's okay."

"Was that your sister?" He asked.

She took her gaze away from the screen, "Yeah. Do you plan on being involved to politics in the future?" She asked then she gaze back at the screen.

Kara wasn't ready to tell the truth. He knew and it was fine. He's willing to wait. He won't force his girlfriend to say something that doesn't really have to matter. He loves her and everyone has their own secret to hide.

Early January, 2018.

Taehyung is back. Kara anticipated it, she was so happy to see him again. Today, they are going to see each other and Taehyung promised her to teach her how to drive.

Taehyung encircled his arm around Kara's waist the moment she hop inside his car. He kissed her hair and put his head on the crook of her neck. "I missed you." He mumbled.

Kara reached for his hand and held it. "I missed you too."

The silence was comfortable between them. They liked to feel every moment with each other in silence. They stayed like that for minutes until Taehyung's phone rang. An unregistered number is calling.

Taehyung hissed and rejected the call. Kara looked at him and saw how his brows furrowed. "What's wrong? Do you know who's calling?" She asked.

"The call was from Japan." He said then his phone rings again with the same number flashing on the screen.

"A girl?" Kara asked. She saw how Taehyung's eyes was filled with fear but he was honest. He nodded. He was about to reject the call again but Kara answered the call.

Taehyung shook his head at Kara, a disapproval to what she did. They both remained in silence while a girl squeaked at the other end of the line.

"Tae! I thought you'd never answer!" The girl said. "Are you still in Japan? Can we hang out?"

Kara waved her hand at Taehyung, rushing him to answer. Taehyung eyed Kara before he reluctantly answered.

"Uh, no. I just got home yesterday." He answered.

"Aw. That's sad, alright then. I guess I'll just see you when I see you." The girl said.

Taehyung immediately ended the call then he faced Kara. "She's an old friend, Kara." He started to explain.

Kara chuckled. "It's fine."

Taehyung tilted his head at Kara. "You're not jealous?" He asked.

She shook her head, "It'd take more than that to make me jealous." She said.

A random girl won't make her jealous but her sister.

February, 2018.

Taehyung held Kara tightly as they sat on the hammock on the sea shore again. "I saw a picture in your diary, Kara." He whispered on her ear softly, grazing his nose on her ear.

He felt her froze and pull away. Her eyes started to be filled with tears. Tears that Taehyung doesn't understand. Why was she crying?

"I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I was going to tell you but I was just so afraid." She said.

Taehyung's brows furrowed. He was worried about her. This was the first time she cried in front of him. He held her tightly.

"Hey, its fine. I understand. Don't cry, please." He said, pulling her closely again and kissing her hair.

"You don't understand. I fooled you. I wasn't the one you saw at the law firm. That was my twin." She explained.

He looked at her. She looked like she was in chaos and he was the calm after the storm. He smiled, "I understand. Let's not make it such a big deal. Yes, I was attracted to her but I fell in love with you. She is not who I know but you." He said.

She hugged him tightly, burying her face on his chest. "I'm sorry I hid my twin to you." She said.

She felt so bare to him that moment. She was telling the truth now. She doesn't need to hide about you anymore and feel scared everytime Taehyung mentions about you. She doesn't need to be scared that Taehyung will leave her because of you with his words. She knew Taehyung was telling the truth.

She knew Taehyung loved her.

May, 2018.

"Between twins, there's always the weaker one and the stronger one. And there's always one with a shorter life than the other. Never think of me as the stronger one, Taehyung because my sister is strongest of them all. She's been fighting her own battle alone. Promise me that you'll look after my sister if I ever die." She looks up at him as they lay on the hammock.

Taehyung stared at her. He doesn't understand why she was telling him this things as she play with his fingers. But she was smiling and that's all that matters to him. Seeing Kara happy is his mission in this lifetime.

Present.

Taehyung stood before her locker inside the charnel house. He held the purple lilies tightly in his hands as he stare at her picture. There was the smile that he always adored.

A smile that was different from yours.

When Kara died, everything felt so heavy. Like he lost something without even saying goodbye. Like he could have done something before she left. Everyday felt heavy for him but when he saw you, he felt like he was given another chance to make everything right. Everytime he saw you not crying, he felt like all of his mistakes was being lifted from him. Day by day, everything became lighter because of you.

He knew Kara is just somewhere watching him and you. He knew that she is guarding you with utmost care. He knew she was happy now. And its time to end everything in between them.

"Its okay for you, right? Is it alright to let you go, Kara? Because its time to move on now." He said.

"Its alright to let you go, right? You'll be happy about this, right? Im sorry if I have to let it go, Kara. I'm sorry if I have to let this love go. But I have to move on, I don't want to cage myself for the love that will never come true anymore. Besides, I think this heart of mine is beating for someone else."

In his mind, he can picture her standing in front of him vividly, smiling and nodding at him. With that thought, he felt at ease. Like finally he's letting it all go. All the resentment he felt for himself when Kara died. All the memories he held close to his heart that meant everything to him, he let it go.

He shook his head, "I am not unloving you Kara. I will always love you, in my heart and in my mind but this heart belongs to someone else now. And it is for your sister. I think I fell in love with her." He chuckled.

"It's time to embrace this. I promise I won't hurt her, I promise I will take care of her so please watch us from above. Kara, please guide us. And may you rest in peace now with no worries because I already got your sister and she will be alright." He said before putting the flowers on the side of her locker.

And like she was right there beside him, a wild wind blew to him. Like her cold arms are wrapping around him. He knew this was it. Kara was finally letting him go.